Emilia nu s-a gr\u0103bit s\u0103 r\u0103spund\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Lini\u0219tea din buc\u0103t\u0103rie devenise ap\u0103s\u0103toare. To\u021bi se uitau ba la ea, ba la Nathan, ba la Vanessa, de parc\u0103 nimeni nu mai \u0219tia unde s\u0103 priveasc\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Nathan a f\u0103cut c\u00e2\u021biva pa\u0219i \u00een\u0103untru. Costumul impecabil, expresia rece \u2014 acela\u0219i om pe care \u00eel v\u0103zuse de at\u00e2tea ori \u00een reviste. Dar ochii\u2026 ochii i s-au schimbat c\u00e2nd au c\u0103zut pe fa\u021ba Emiliei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A clipit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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O dat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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De dou\u0103 ori.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u0218i atunci a \u00een\u021beles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201eEmilia\u2026?\u201d vocea lui a ie\u0219it mai \u00eencet dec\u00e2t se a\u0219tepta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Un murmur a trecut prin \u00eenc\u0103pere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Vanessa s-a \u00eencruntat. \u201eNathan, cine e femeia asta \u0219i de ce\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201eTaci.\u201d Tonul lui a t\u0103iat aerul ca un cu\u021bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Vanessa a \u00eencremenit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Emilia a sim\u021bit cum \u00eei bate inima, dar nu a dat \u00eenapoi. A f\u0103cut un pas \u00een fa\u021b\u0103, ridic\u00e2ndu-\u0219i b\u0103rbia exact cum o f\u0103cuse Vanessa mai devreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201eDa,\u201d a spus ea simplu. \u201eEmilia. So\u021bia ta. Sau\u2026 \u00eenc\u0103 mai sunt, nu?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Un alt val de \u0219oc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cineva a sc\u0103pat o can\u0103. S-a auzit cum se sparge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nathan a trecut m\u00e2na peste fa\u021b\u0103, ca \u0219i cum \u00eencerca s\u0103-\u0219i adune g\u00e2ndurile. \u201eCe cau\u021bi aici?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emilia a z\u00e2mbit scurt, f\u0103r\u0103 bucurie. \u201eLucrez aici de dou\u0103 s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni. La opera\u021biuni. Sub numele de Ionescu.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eImposibil\u2026\u201d a murmurat el.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eBa deloc,\u201d a spus ea. \u201eE destul de u\u0219or s\u0103 intri \u00eentr-o firm\u0103 \u00een care nimeni nu se mai uit\u0103 la oameni, doar la cifre.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vanessa \u0219i-a revenit prima. \u201eNathan, asta e o nebunie. Femeia asta m-a provocat\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eTe-a provocat?\u201d Emilia s-a \u00eentors spre ea. \u201eAm b\u0103ut dintr-un pahar. At\u00e2t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eDin paharul so\u021bului meu!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen acel moment, Nathan a ridicat brusc vocea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAjunge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To\u021bi au t\u0103cut din nou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
S-a \u00eentors lent spre Vanessa. Privirea lui nu mai era deloc cald\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAi spus\u2026 so\u021bul t\u0103u?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vanessa a ezitat pentru prima dat\u0103. Doar o frac\u021biune de secund\u0103, dar suficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eEu\u2026 adic\u0103\u2026 toat\u0103 lumea \u0219tie c\u0103\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eCe \u0219tie?\u201d vocea lui a devenit \u0219i mai joas\u0103. \u201eC\u0103 \u00ee\u021bi permi\u021bi s\u0103 dai ordine \u00een locul meu? C\u0103 vorbe\u0219ti \u00een numele meu? Sau c\u0103 ai \u00eenceput s\u0103 crezi pove\u0219ti pe care \u021bi le-ai spus singur\u0103?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vanessa s-a \u00eenro\u0219it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emilia a sim\u021bit c\u0103 ceva se rupe \u00een aer. Nu mai era doar despre ea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNathan,\u201d a spus ea calm, \u201enu am venit pentru scen\u0103. Am venit pentru r\u0103spunsuri.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El s-a uitat la ea lung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi a dat din cap. \u201e\u00cen biroul meu. Acum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Au urcat f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 spun\u0103 nimic. U\u0219a s-a \u00eenchis \u00een urma lor, iar zgomotul din birou a r\u0103mas jos, ca o lume separat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pentru c\u00e2teva secunde, au stat unul \u00een fa\u021ba celuilalt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Str\u0103ini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eSpune-mi direct,\u201d a zis Emilia. \u201eCe se \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103 aici? Cu banii. Cu ea. Cu tine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nathan a oftat ad\u00e2nc \u0219i s-a a\u0219ezat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNu e ce crezi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAtunci ce e?\u201d vocea ei s-a \u00een\u0103sprit. \u201ePentru c\u0103 eu am v\u0103zut acte. Transferuri. Semn\u0103turi dubioase. \u0218i o secretar\u0103 care se comport\u0103 de parc\u0103 e st\u0103p\u00e2na locului.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
El a t\u0103cut o clip\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi a spus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201ePentru c\u0103\u2026 i-am dat voie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emilia a clipit. \u201eCum adic\u0103?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eAm avut nevoie de cineva care s\u0103 preia presiunea. Eu eram\u2026 plecat. Cu mintea. Cu tot. Dup\u0103 ce ne-am desp\u0103r\u021bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuvintele au lovit mai tare dec\u00e2t palma Vanessei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201e\u0218i asta e scuza?\u201d a \u00eentrebat ea \u00eencet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNu.\u201d A ridicat privirea. \u201eDar e adev\u0103rul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
S-a ridicat \u0219i s-a apropiat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eIar cu banii\u2026 ai dreptate. Sunt probleme. Dar nu sunt furturi. Sunt \u00eencerc\u0103ri disperate s\u0103 \u021bin firma pe linia de plutire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emilia a r\u0103mas nemi\u0219cat\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eDe ce nu mi-ai spus?\u201d a \u00eentrebat ea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nathan a z\u00e2mbit amar. \u201ePentru c\u0103 nu mai \u0219tiam dac\u0103 mai am dreptul.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
T\u0103cerea s-a a\u0219ternut din nou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar de data asta era diferit\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mai sincer\u0103.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emilia a tras aer \u00een piept. \u201eAtunci o s\u0103 facem a\u0219a. Eu r\u0103m\u00e2n. Oficial. Verific tot. Cur\u0103\u021b\u0103m ce e de cur\u0103\u021bat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nathan a dat \u00eencet din cap. \u201e\u00cempreun\u0103?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ea l-a privit lung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apoi a spus simplu:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201e\u00cempreun\u0103. Dar de la zero.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00cen acel moment, pentru prima dat\u0103 dup\u0103 aproape un an, nu mai p\u0103reau doi str\u0103ini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iar jos, \u00een birou, vestea deja se r\u0103sp\u00e2ndea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nu despre scandal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ci despre cine era, de fapt, femeia care avusese curajul s\u0103 bea dintr-un simplu pahar cu ap\u0103\u2026 \u0219i s\u0103 schimbe totul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n